Rice RB Smith back on his feetComeback from knee injury hardly taken for granted

JEFFREY MARTIN, Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle |
September 16, 2009

Rice running back Tyler Smith, center, is back in a starting role two years after a serious knee injury.

Almost two years ago, Tyler Smith tore up his knee on a kickoff return against UTEP.

His older brother, former Rice standout Quinton Smith, was watching. His mother and father were there, too, accompanying Tyler to the emergency room to assess the damage. The injury was as bad as it looked, meaning the recovery would be grueling.

But it also made his start at running back in this year's season opener at UAB so much more significant, if not improbable.

“It was very emotional,” Tyler said Monday. “The doctors were saying I had the possibility of not coming back. … I stayed positive about that time.

“It's tough talking about it because it's really emotional, and I really don't want to talk about it that much.”

Welcome comparison

‘Q,' as he was known from 2003-06 when he amassed the second-most career rushing yards (2,505) in school history, is the most recent model to which Owls running backs are compared.

But based on pure ability, Quinton gives the edge to Tyler, who has rushed 27 times for 86 yards this season.

“I think my brother and I have different styles of play,” said the older brother, who splits time between Austin and San Antonio as a physical therapy rehab trainer. “It's not just individually, but also the offenses we played in. … But in talent, skills, like I said to my brother, I think he's better than me.”

He agrees with Rice coach David Bailiff, who described Tyler this week as “a total package back for us right now.”

Bailiff continued, explaining how proud he is of his running back for coming back so quickly and looking as good as he has.

“That tells you how much he loves the game,” Bailiff said.

When it is suggested that Tyler, who suffered a concussion against the Blazers and is recovering from turf toe at Texas Tech, might be injury-prone, the older brother turns defensive. The reaction is reflexive, but it's rooted in reality.

“Things happen,” said Quinton, adding that he also battled a hamstring issue his first season and then a dislocated elbow as a sophomore. “That's what I told him — things happen.”

‘I'm not little Q'

Smith dove into rehab, finally feeling like himself around the time the Owls claimed the Texas Bowl. The brothers spoke and continue to speak about three times a week with frequent text messages sprinkled in.

Nearly six years his brother's senior, Quinton hosted Tyler's official visit to Rice. They never played together for the Owls, which was probably for the best.

“I know he wants to make a name for himself,” Quinton said. “When he first got to Rice, one of the things he said was, ‘I'm not little Q.'”

The older brother laughs. Growing up, on or off the field, theirs was a fraternal rivalry in overdrive. .

“It's getting back out there and competing with big brother,” Quinton said. “He's always trying to outdo me. I think that pushed him to get back out on the field.”